Minutes of the Regular meeting of the Council of the City of Abbotsford held October 20,2003, at 7:30 p.m. in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium

Transcription

1 Minutes of the Regular meeting of the Council of the City of Abbotsford held October 20,2003, at 7:30 p.m. in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium Council Present: Mayor M. Reeves; and Councillors B. Beck (part), E. Fast (part), S. Gibson, M. Gill, L. Harris, G. Peary, P. Ross, and M. Warawa Staff Present: City Manager - G. Guthrie; Director of Administration and Corporate Planning - T. Strong; Director of Corporate Services - D. Bottrill; Manager of Financial Services - J. Lewis; Budget Manager - K. Sinclair; Director of Engineering Services - J. Gordon; Director of Parks and Recreation - M. Taylor; Chief Constable - I. MacKenzie; Finance Officer - S. Bursill; and Administrative Manager, Corporate Services - S. Kowalchuk Staff Present for a Portion of the Meeting: Director of Development Services - G. Acheson; and Financial Analyst - R. Millard Media Present: Shaw Communications Inc. Public Present: 10 ' 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Reeves called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. 2. ADOPTION OF MINUTES.1 Regular Council Meeting Minutes - October 6, 2003 Moved by Councillor Harris, seconded by Councillor Peary, that the minutes of the Regular meeting of Council held October 6,2003, be adopted. R CARRIED. 3. BUSINESS OUT OF MINUTES 4. DELEGATIONS 5. CONSENT AGENDA 5.1 BYLAWS TO BE ADOPTED Councillor Beck declared a conflict of interest with item 5.1.1, Bylaw No , and excused himself from the meeting at 7 :31 p.m.

2 , at 7:30 p.m. in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium Page 2 Moved by Councillor Peary, seconded by Councillor Ross, that the following bylaws, be adopted:.1 Bylaw No , cited as "Abbotsford Zoning By-law, 1996, Amendment By-law No. 303";.2 Bylaw No , cited as "D Street Road Exchange and Dedication Bylaw, 2003";.3 Bylaw No , cited as "Sixth Avenue Road Exchange and Dedication Bylaw, 2003"; and.4 Bylaw No , cited as "Business License Bylaw, 2000, Amendment No.3, 2003" R CARRIED. Councillor Beck rejoined the meeting at 7:32 p.m. 5.2 MINUTES AND CORRESPONDENCE Moved by Councillor Warawa, seconded by Councillor Harris, that the following minutes and correspondence be received:.1 Fraser Valley Regional District minutes: (a) Joint Abbotsford-Mission Sewer Board meeting held September 11, 2003 ; (b) Air Quality Committee meeting held September 2, 2003; and (c) Regional Parks Committee meeting held September 9, 2003;.2 correspondence dated August 27, 2003, from the Secretary of State, providing a copy of a study by The Conference Board of Canada comparing the quality of life of western Canadians with similar economic regions;.3 British Columbia Treaty Commission 2003 Annual Report;

3 , at 7:30 p.m. in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium Page 3.4 correspondence from the Society for Children and Youth of B.C. inviting participation in hosting a workshop to help make British Columbia the most child and youth friendly province in Canada;.5 correspondence dated October 2, 2003, from the City of Prince Rupert, requesting support for a complete lift of the United States' ban on Canadian beef and other meat products;.6 correspondence dated September 22, 2003, from the Tale'awtxw Aboriginal Capital Corporation, attaching an Executive Summary of the 2010 Aboriginal Business Opportunity Summit to be held in Vancouver in February 2004;.7 Media Advisory dated October 15, 2003, from Shaw Cable systems and Save-On Foods announcing the results of the Thanksgiving Food Bank drive;.8 correspondence and background information from the Hospital Employees' Union, regarding a public private partnership for the Abbotsford Hospital and Cancer Centre Project;.9 correspondence dated October 3, 2003, from the Fraser Valley Regional Library, enclosing its 2002 Annual Report; and.10 Abbotsford Community Update, Volume 1 - Issue 1 - October R CARRIED. Moved by Councillor Warawa, seconded by Councillor Gill, that a letter be sent to the City of Prince Rupert, supporting a complete lift of the United States' ban on Canadian beef and other meat products. R CARRIED.

4 , at 7:30 p.m. in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium Page 4 6. COMMITTEES Moved by Councillor Harris, seconded by Councillor Warawa, that correspondence from the Society for Children and Youth of B.C., regarding hosting a workshop to help make British Columbia the most child and youth friendly province in Canada, be referred to the Abbotsford Youth Commission and School District No. 34 (Abbotsford). R CARRIED..1 Abbotsford Economic Development Commission - July 10, 2003 Moved by Councillor Gill, seconded by Councillor Gibson, that the minutes of the Abbotsford Economic Development Commission meeting, held July 10,2003, be approved. R CARRIED..2 Matsqui Prairie Dyking, Drainage and Irrigation Committee Regular Meeting February 20, 2003 Moved by Councillor Gill, seconded by Councillor Gibson, that the minutes of the Matsqui Prairie Dyking, Drainage and Irrigation Committee Regular meeting, held February 20, 2003, and its recommendations, be approved. R CARRIED..3 Matsqui Prairie Dyking, Drainage and Irrigation District Annual General Meeting - March 26, 2003 Moved by Councillor Gill, seconded by Councillor Gibson, that the minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Matsqui Prairie Dyking, Drainage and Irrigation District, held March 26,2003, be approved. R CARRIED.

5 , at 7:30 p.m. in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium Page 5 7. BYLAWS Councillor Fast declared a conflict of interest with item 7.1, Bylaw No , and excused himself from the meeting at 7:35 p.m.. 1 Bylaw No , "Tax Exemption Bylaw No.1, 2004"; Authorizes property tax exemptions for 2004 Moved by Councillor Gill, seconded by Councillor Peary, that Bylaw No , cited as "Tax Exemption Bylaw No.1, 2004", be introduced and read a first, second and third time. R CARRIED. Councillor Fast rejoined the meeting at 7:36 p.m..2 Bylaw No , "Tax Exemption Bylaw No.2, 2004"; Exempts property under the Community Charter 8. NEW BUSINESS Moved by Councillor Harris, seconded by Councillor Ross, that Bylaw No , cited as "Tax Exemption Bylaw No.2, 2004", be introduced and read a first, second and third time. R CARRIED..1 Acquisition of one hybrid (gas/electric) passenger vehicle ( ) Moved by Councillor Ross, seconded by Councillor Harris, that Report No. PUR dated October 16, 2003, be received from the Purchasing and Risk Manager, regarding the acquisition of one four-door hybrid (gas/electric) midsize passenger vehicle; and that the Mayor's current vehicle be transferred to the City's fleet and replaced with the hybrid vehicle, along with the City's livery.

6 , at 7:30 p.m. in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium Page 6 It was observed that the hybrid vehicle should be be liveried, in order to mcrease awareness of the City's commitment to reducing harmful vehicle emissions *by promoting the use of environmentally friendly modes of transportation. * Resolution R The motion was then put and R CARRIED..2 Financial Plan The Director of Corporate Services introduced the 2004 Financial Plan, which would focus on General Operating and Police Services. The issues affecting the plan included: residential to commercial and industrial tax revenue; the City's debt load; growth; other financial pressures and the consumer price index (CPI), estimated by Statistics Canada at 2%. Considerations above the CPI include: labour-based contracts; benefits and retirement allowances; increased insurance premiums and gas and oil prices; and aging infrastructure. The Chief Constable, who presented the Police Services' Plan introduced J. Robertson, Abbotsford Police Board. He provided an overview of the Abbotsford Police Service, and advised that the proposed budget was approved by the Police Board and is consistent with the Comprehensive Policing Plan approved in June In order to address the demands of a growing community and meet the defined minimum standards necessary to provide adequate service levels, the force must be increased by 17 officers and nine civilians for The Chief Constable then outlined the Police Service priorities, with the highest being to increase service levels to a minimum standard. Other priorities included increasing police visibility, and dealing with the growing number of marijuana grow operations. The Chief Constable provided statistics, indicating a police to population ratio of 1 :824, and cost per capita of $146 (based on 2001 census data). Comparisons with other jurisdictions indicated that Abbotsford has the lowest per capita cost, with the highest case burden per officer. An increase of $3.2 million for the Police Services' Plan was required. The Director of Corporate Services continued with the Financial Plan presentation, outlining the scheduled meetings and financial planning principles. He reported that the average annual tax increase since amalgamation in 1995 was 3.64% and, in the last five years, 4.85%. In order to maintain existing services, manage growth, and ensure compliance with Provincial Government requirements relative to the Fire Department's response to incidents, an increase in the base financial plan of $2.3 million is required.

7 , at 7:30 p.m. in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium Page 7 Additional funding requests, which are consistent with the City's Operational Plan strategies, affect the increase by a further $1.035 million Other considerations, based on the Operational Plan, were presented, but not included in the Financial Plan. Allowing for growth and other net revenue of $2.4 million, the proposed total tax increase is $4.1 million, or 6.9%. One Councillor pointed out that local governments in the GVRD collect a gas tax, which is reflected in their revenue, while the City of Abbotsford does not. The Director of Corporate Services advised that one cent of gas tax would net approximately $2.6 million in revenue. With regard to the Police Service, a cumulative tax increase for the next five years was requested. The Director of Corporate Services noted that, while the impact in 2004 would be greater due to bringing the force up to minimum service levels, the impact on subsequent years should be less. Although it was generally felt that a 6.9% tax increase was too high, some Councillors agreed with the need to increase the Police Service as a proactive approach to addressing the City's escalating crime rate. Senior government downloading has affected prior years' tax increases, with the result that the City now has to "catch up". P. Vaughan, Skyline Drive, felt that the Five-Year Financial Plan was not representative of the proposed 6.9% tax increase for The Director of Corporate Services advised that the Five-Year Plan did not include a 5.4% tax increased requested by the Police Service for Mr. Vaughan was not in favour of paying more taxes for policing to address crime, but felt that the criminal justice system should be overhauled, with stricter penalties imposed as a means to curb criminal activity. He asked if Council remuneration and expenses were to be increased, and was advised that there was no provision, in 2004, for an increase. Moved by Councillor Gibson, seconded by Councillor Gill, that the Financial Plan presentation be received. R CARRIED.

8 00U , at 7:30 p.m. in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium Page 8 9. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Councillor Fast, seconded by Councillor Ross, that the October 20, 2003, Regular Council meeting be adjourned (9:40 p.m.). CARRIED. Certified Correct: ~J Mayor Director of Administra' n and Corporate Planning